Second degree murder charges for man accused of shooting Detroit teenager

A suburban Detroit homeowner has been charged with second degree murder, manslaughter and the possession of a firearm in the November 2nd shooting death of 19-year-old Renisha McBride.  

Fifty-four-year old Theodore Wafer shot McBride in the early hours of November 2nd after she allegedly knocked on his locked screen door, according to the Detroit Free Press. She was shot in the face with a shotgun, and died soon afterwards. 

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McBride appears to have been looking for assistance after a car accident, which took place two hours before she was shot and killed. 

A toxicology report revealed that the young woman was legally intoxicated at the time of the shooting, but evidence showed she did not attempt to force entry into Wafer's home, according to the New York Times.

The death of McBride — who is black, while 50-year-old Theodore Wafer is white — has stirred up racial tensions in Detroit, with a majority black downtown area and considerably whiter suburbs. Some are comparing the situation to the Trayvon Martin shooting in early February 2012. 

“In this case, the charging decision has absolutely nothing to do with the race of the parties,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to the Associated Press. “These are the appropriate charges and he did not act in lawful self-defense,” Worthy added. 

Here is video from WXYZ Detroit on the outcome of the case.